53 ~ The Next Letter

By Kay Heitsch

I wasn't expecting the Peale Center to stay in touch after they published my letter In Loving Memory of Todd, but they did.

Ric, Dr. Peale's editor, and Ann, his assistant, called me every so often. They always asked what was going on in my life.

You never know what foster children may bring into your home.

When Ric called this week, I had been dealing with scabies and pink eye. I was stripping beds, washing towels and clothes, spraying Rid on the furniture and interior of the van, and rubbing cream on everyone. I also put drops in for the pink eye. To top it off, we had to make another trip to Michigan on the weekend.

Ric was a single guy. I don't think he had any idea how much work it would be to deal with all of this when he asked if I would write Dr. Peale another letter.

Ric explained this would be a follow-up letter telling Dr. Peale what had been going on since my last letter. They wanted to publish it.

I reminded Ric I was not a professional writer. Also, In Loving Memory of Todd, I wrote it so fast that I didn't even feel I was writing it. Ric ignored my excuses and said he would expect my letter on Monday.

I let Ric know if this was something the Lord wanted me to do, I'm sure it would be there. If not, it wouldn't.

I set up the card table in our bedroom with our old typewriter on it. I put a sheet of paper in.

In between cleaning, spraying, washing, applying cream, cooking, and packing, I would type a few words that came to my mind.

Much to my delight, by Friday, the letter was ready, and I sent it to Ric for Dr. Peale.

Saturday morning, everyone was cleared up, and we headed for Michigan.

Time passed, I was pretty busy, and I forgot about the letter.